Leadership

DEAR MAN OF GOD,

Many years ago, a young man was about to go into the ministry. He went to an older minister for counsel and asked the older minister, sir, what advice or word do you have for me? This elderly minister kept quiet for a while, then all he told him was "never get bitter but better".

After well over two decades in active frontline ministry, I can tell you that's very true. I realized that;

1-The tendency to be bitter increases over the years 

2-To be bitter or better is a choice  

3-The only way not to get bitter is to focus on getting  better 

When our focus and expectations are wrong, we can't escape being or becoming bitter. You can get bitter against God, man or both. We get bitter when we feel we are putting in so much but little or nothing to show for it. 

Your fulfillment should be found or drawn from obeying God or doing His will and not necessarily the result(s) you expect because that is God's responsibility. Paul said he planted, Apollos watered, God gave the increase. He decides when and how to give the increase. If you are to plant, do that, and be grateful to God for the privilege of doing just that. 

We become bitter when we have expectations from men, to either appreciate, acknowledge or validate us in one form or another. We should withdraw all such expectations from men and let our expectations be from God alone, let Him decide who to use and how to use them. 

Sometimes, God may just close some hearts against us, so, we can keep our eyes on Him. Be satisfied or content with the privilege to impact and bless lives.  Do it as unto the Lord gladly, knowing He is a faithful rewarder and decides the avenues or vessels to use to bless you. Let's take our eyes off the people and what they have, keeping it fixed on Him with hearts ever open to Him. God doesn't show up many times because He is not our focus. He will never do anything unless He is sure of taking the glory. 

Get better in your love walk, trusting in God, partnering with the Holy Spirit and obeying God. 

Always remember, love is a winner any day, any time and they that love the laws of God shall not be offended in anything. 

No experience justifies being bitter. Bitterness springs from offence, it defiles, contaminates, corrupts. And when that happens you are no more fit for a noble, righteous cause. 

Get better in being quick to forgive (spouse, superiors, subordinates, colleagues, flock etc). Bitterness hinders or stops the flow of the power of God. What you lose for forgiving or being quick to forgive is too small compared to what you lose being bitter. 

The truth is, you have all to gain forgiving or being quick to forgive and all to lose being bitter. Study Joseph and Esau in the Bible, the difference is clear. 

A stress-free, struggle-free life and ministry must be free from offence and bitterness.

Remember, NEVER GET BITTER BUT BETTER

PRAYERS

I CHOOSE TO WALK AND GROW IN LOVE FOR  GOD AND MAN. It's POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT IS SHED ABROAD IN MY HEART

I GIVE NO  PLACE TO THE DEVIL THROUGH OFFENCE

I GET BETTER IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD 

MY TRUST IS IN YOU, LORD 

MY HOPE IS IN YOU, LORD 

MY EXPECTATION IS FROM YOU, LORD 

KEY SCRIPTURES

Heb.12:15, Rom.5:5, Ps.119:165, 2Cor.6:3, Mt.18:7, 1Cor.3:6

To be continued...

DEAR MAN OF GOD,

Apostle Paul boldly declared before King Agrippa in the book of Acts that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. In other words, he lived to fulfill the heavenly vision. If there is a heavenly vision, it means there is an earthly vision. 

The prophet Ezekiel said the heavens were opened over him and he saw the visions of God. This suggests there are visions of satan. This is because satan always has a counterfeit for whatever God has. This is important because the source of the vision determines who will back the vision. God will not back nor bless what He has not shown or revealed. 

It's not about what I want to do or what I like to do. It's about what He will have me do. In these days where we are so good at planning, setting goals and targets, they are not bad in themselves but they must line up or be based on what He has shown. It's time to wait to see what He is saying like Habakkuk so we can run a stress-free race in life and ministry. 

The people, things, place, skills, methods etc we need to excel or fulfill ministry are all based on what we have seen. It can't be seen for you, you have to see it personally and clearly. No wonder, Moses was told, see that you build according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. How could Noah have built what had never been built in his day if he didn't first see it clearly with the inner eyes in the place of intimate communion with the Lord? This remains our take-off point-the foundation upon which anything long-lasting and stress-free can be built. The time of waiting to see what He is saying (take off, next phase)  is not a waste and it's not just an investment but makes the journey surer, shorter and easier. 

A vision is not a good idea. It's the plan of God revealed as you meditate on His word, pray, fast, praise, thank Him. Stop being distracted by what God has shown others or what they have decided to do to make a name for themselves. Go to God, He is no respecter of persons, He will show you what He is saying to you 

HEART SEARCH

- AM I RUNNING WITH A HEAVENLY OR EARTHLY VISION?

- WHAT HAVE I SEEN, VISIONS OF GOD OR DEVILS?

- WHOSE VISION ARE MY GOALS AND TARGETS IN MINISTRY FULFILLING?

- WHO IS BEING GLORIFIED?

KEY SCRIPTURES

Acts 26:19, Ezek. 1:1, Hab. 2:1-2, Ex. 26:30 

PRAYER

I receive grace to wait to see what God is saying in Jesus name 

I  receive what You will have me do, not what I want or like to do in Jesus name 

To be continued…

DEAR MAN OF GOD,

Until Covid -19 showed up, we were on a very fast lane with increased activities and several things calling for our attention. There has been no time in human history we have been confronted with distractions like now. We have been so busy with ministry activities at the expense of our personal communion with the Lord. 

Jesus said without me you can do nothing. Our real and greatest asset remains our personal relationship with God.  Our place of strength remains our personal intimate walk with God or simply put, intimacy with the Lord. Our work for God is a fruit of our walk with God. Our public life is a fruit of  our private life. 

All our struggles and stress are rooted in our gradual disconnection from the vine because without Him, we can do nothing. The more we stay connected, the more we can do. The strength, wisdom, ability, power etc., to be and do is drawn from Him. No wonder Paul says, I can do all I ought to do through Christ that strengthens me. 

The real battle we are confronted with, is the battle of maintaining intimacy with Him. If we are able to win this battle, we would be able to win every other battle. 

Let's abide in the vine and free ourselves from all stress, we cannot do it in our own strength.  
Dear Man of God,  make your personal walk with  God, dying to self,  becoming like Him, and being a doer of the word your priority . 
This season is offering us the opportunity to do just that, let's seize the moment for there is great work ahead of us. 
Remember, they that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. That verse of scripture did not say it is those that know about their God that will do exploits.

PRAYER 
Lord, I have ears and I hear what You are saying, I give You my undivided attention. I make my time with You in the word and prayers a top priority in Jesus name. 

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES: John15:1-5, Philippians 4:13, Daniel 11:32 

To be continued... 



DEAR MAN OF GOD,

Years ago, I had the privilege to minister in a particular local assembly.  The Pastor of the assembly had travelled, so a pastor stood in for him. 

After the ministration, he took me to the office, brought out a pen and notebook and asked me to tell him the keys to success in ministry. I simply asked him, what did God tell you or better put, what did He show you? I let him know that’s primarily what's needed.  Every other thing or point is secondary. I think he was disappointed but that's simply the truth.

It's important we remind ourselves that our place of strength remains our personal intimate walk with God, our greatest asset also remains our personal knowledge of God. 

Like Habakkuk, let's wait to see what He is saying. He is only committed to what He has shown. The challenge is, we can be so carried away with the activities of ministry at the expense of waiting on Him in prayers, studying and meditations with fasting till we see. 

Jesus called His disciples to be with Him before He could send them forth. This is the order-it is Being before Doing. That's why I define ministry as ‘pouring out of the life of Christ I have received to others’. In answering the call to ministry, it does not begin with name and signboard. It begins in the closet with Him.

After the baptism of Jesus, before He began His ministry, He went into the wilderness.  Apostle Paul wanted to know what he was to do immediately after his conversion, but he was told to go into the city and wait.

When you wait to see, you can be sure of a stress-free journey. But please, stress-free doesn't mean challenge free or that everything will fall in place all at once. However, in the midst of the challenges, there will be no agitations, there will be inner peace. 

One time, Jesus called His disciples and asked them, who do men say that I am? But they said what others have said. He didn't respond because you can't build or run with what others say about Him. He turned the question on them, “But whom say ye that I am”? Peter answered and said “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus said to him, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in heaven.

Conclusively, it follows that this will continue to be our take-off point and our strong point. Until I have heard from my Father in heaven, I am on my own. And I can't hear from Him if I don't give Him all the attention.

There’s no time in human history whereby we have been faced with distractions and increased activities like now, added to the fact that we are where we are now as a generation because we have not given God the attention He deserves and that begins with you and I, THE MEN OF GOD.

KEYWORDS

- WAITING ON GOD 

- BEING BEFORE DOING

- PAYING ATTENTION TO GOD

- PERSONAL WALK WITH GOD 

KEY SCRIPTURES 

Hab. 2:1, Matthew 3 :16 - 4: 1,  Acts 9:1-6,Mt16:13-18, Mark3:14 

To be continued…

DEAR MAN OF GOD,

The constant pressure most times is rooted in our motives and motivations. Many times, we are all doing the same thing but for different reasons. The men of old in Genesis 11 wanted to build in order to make a name for themselves. I could be in ministry to make a name, prove a point or to glorify His name. Whose name it's for, bears the burden. 

In doing my heart check, I had to ask, whose name am I really concerned about, His or mine? When it's my name, I'm under constant pressure to meet up with my expectations. 

The Israelites requested for a king like every other nation-what everybody is doing, what is commonly accepted. In doing my heart check, I asked, is it others or Him that's the motivation for my pursuits? Now, when it's others, I am on my own and will definitely be under constant pressure. Yes, there is the place for learning and encouraging one another but that's applicable when I have received my definite pattern from Him. 

Paul says they comparing themselves with themselves are not wise. In order words, the pattern, vision I received from Him remains my measuring rule. They comparing themselves (what they are doing) with the vision of God for their life and ministry are wise.

Please remember, He is the One that calls, I didn't call myself. So, it is His responsibility to give my job description and operational patten. It's my responsibility to receive this from Him. How easy, pressure and stress-free my life and ministry will be is a product of how clear this is and my level of obedience to it, full stop.

This should be my primary focus. My friends, associates, mentors, location, life choices and decisions should be made in the light of this. I can't just do what I like, because of what I see others do or feel like. He made some captains over fifty, hundred, thousands.

Don't fight or struggle to be popular or known. Channel your efforts to know what He is saying or has said and obey Him fully. Be content with whatever be the outcome. Be content obeying God and pleasing Him.

My prayer in this season - LORD PURIFY MY MOTIVES IN JESUS NAME.

Scriptural references -Gen11:4,1Sam. 8:5,1Sam. 2:3, 2 Cor. 10:12 

To be continued...

DEAR MAN OF GOD,

God is eternally faithful. If as a minister I am always under pressure for money to pay bills, do programs then I need to do a heart check. It's either He is not the One asking me to do what I am doing, the way I am doing it or I am going ahead of Him. He will always provide for what He calls for when we learn to follow through with Him. No wonder, Paul prayed that we are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Col. 1:9 

Three words stand out; 

- Knowledge 

- Wisdom 

- Spiritual understanding 

May your profiting appear before all to the glory of God as you meditate on these truths and make adjustments where need be. 

To be continued...